Crimewave (1985)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Sam Raimi

Writers:

Ethan Coen (written by) &
Joel Coen (written by) ...

Release Date:

25 April 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Horror

Tagline:

Extermination is not just a business. It's a way of life.

Plot:

A pair of whacked-out cartoon-like exterminator/hitmen kill the owner of a burglar-alarm company, and stalk the partner who hired them...

Plot Keywords:

Nerd | Electrocution | Heel | Crime Comedy | Cult Director

Cast

Louise Lasser	...	Helene Trend
Paul L. Smith	...	Faron Crush
Brion James	...	Arthur Coddish
Sheree J. Wilson	...	Nancy
Edward R. Pressman	...	Ernest Trend
Bruce Campbell	...	Renaldo 'The Heel'
Reed Birney	...	Vic Ajax
Richard Bright	...	Officer Brennan
Antonio Fargas	...	Blind Man
Hamid Dana	...	Donald Odegard
John Hardy	...	Mr. Yarman
Emil Sitka	...	Colonel Rodgers
Hal Youngblood	...	Jack Elroy
Sean Farley	...	Jack Elroy Jr
Richard DeManincor	...	Officer Garvey

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Australia:M | New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Vic cries "Tally-Ho!" before jumping from car to car. Sam Raimi later had heroes yell "Tally-Ho!" before jumping in two later films: Army of Darkness (1992) and Spider-Man (2002). Vic asks Nancy if she'd like to "have lunch some evening". Raimi reused this joke in "Spider-Man" in a scene between Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Vic is on the stairs reading his 'how to' book, his ladder is folded up and leaning on the wall behind him; before Renaldo shows up, it is open and standing away from the wall, and then it is gone after Renaldo leaves.

Quotes:

Renaldo the Heel: I've never seen you here before. I like that in a woman.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Raising Arizona (1987)

Soundtrack:

William Tell Overture

This film changed my life when I saw it

I watched this film in the early 90's. I had chosen to view it as I had seen Evil Dead and was interested to see some other Raimi work. This film blew me away with its unique style, nod to film noir, use of black and white imaging and suspenseful score.

The story is an easy surmise, with great one-liners, and efficiently executed by a kooky cast list. The scene that really stuck in my mind is where the two rat catchers are stalking the female through a corridor full of doors - awesome. Please check out this film!!

This film was my gateway to discovering some amazing films.It inspired me to rediscover Hitchcock and to follow the work of the Coen Bros, and Raimi himself.